The murder trial for South Carolina rapper 18Veno started this past Tuesday in York County, where 23-year-old Christopher LaMont McCollough is accused of firing the shot that killed the music artist. As the trial's begun, more details have emerged about 18Veno's death in January 2021.
According to prosecutor Matthew Hogge, 18Veno (real name Paul Harts) was shot and killed during a botched marijuana drug deal. Hogge alleged that 18Veno sold weed, in addition to pursuing a rap career, and McCollough planned to rob the rapper.
"Christopher McCollough set all this in motion," Hogge said. "He is the reason Paul Harts is dead. Everyone in the car the night of the killing was breaking the law."
McCollough's co-defendant was a passenger and also allegedly shot 18Veno. While the co-defendant has been charged, he's not on trial and is expected to testify during the trial. McCollough was reportedly shot during the attempted robbery but claimed his injuries were the result of another shooting.
Monier Abusaft, McCollough's attorney, has claimed McCollough's co-defendant threatened to kill him during the deal. The lawyer added that McCollough, the co-defendant, and 18Veno were all armed and claimed the case "came down to who is doing the robbing." McCollough has admitted to meeting 18Veno to buy marijuana, after posting on social media about needing the substance, but his lawyer said the fatal shot was not fired by his client.
After 18Veno's death, McCollough was arrested on drug charges stemming from the case while 20-year-old Khalil Robinson was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter.
Source: The Herald
